Chart Observations: 9/10 FLA @ NYM

1) Bobby Parnell: 104 pitches. (FB, SL, CU). 11 strikes swinging. 8 Sliders, 3 Fastballs.

• Parnell came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with a little run in on righties and a little sink, a change with some fade from lefties and some sink that he will throw 2-0 even though he can't throw it for strikes and a sharp 2-7 slider with slightly above average bite. Bottom line with Parnell is this, he can't throw strikes. His fastball control is average, but his command is below average. Both his change and slider can only be thrown as out pitches right now (i.e. bounced) and he also spikes more fastballs then any big league pitcher I have seen. He needs to be developing this repetoire in AAA.

1st: FB (92-96), SL (85-89), CU (89) - 2 FB, 2 SL

2nd: FB (91-95), CU (87)

3rd: FB (91-95), SL (86-87), CU (88) - 3 SL

4th: FB (92-97), SL (89), CU (88-89) - FB, SL

5th: FB (93-97), SL (84-88), CU (87) - 2 SL

2) Sean West: 82 pitches. (FB, SL, CU). 6 strikes swinging. 3 Fastballs, 3 Sliders.

• West came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with a little run in on lefties, a change with good fade from righties and some sink and a 11-5 slider with good bite. He will throw 3-2 sliders and changeups.

1st: FB (91-94), SL (83), CU (83-87)

2nd: FB (91-93), SL (80-84), CU (85-86) - FB, 2 SL

3rd: FB (90-92), SL (82), CU (83-85) - 2 FB

4th: FB (90-93), SL (82-84), CU (82-87) - SL

5th: FB (90-92), CU (85)

3) Burke Badenhop: 23 pitches. (FB, SL, CU). 2 strikes swinging. 2 Changeups.

• Badenhop came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties and good sink, a change with good fade from lefties and good sink and a sweeping 3-8 slider with okay bite.

5th: FB (88-90), SL (79-82), CU (82)

6th: FB (87-89), CU (80-83) - 2 CU

4) Tobi Stoner: 15 pitches. (FB, SL, CU, CB, Split). 2 strikes swinging. Fastball, Slider.

• Stoner is a 6-2, 215 pound righty. The 24 year old has a medium frame that appears to be maxed out. He has a somewhat thick, athletic lower half. He came from an over the top release. He has a classic drop and drive delivery that appears to be pretty clean. His fastball has some run in on righties and some sink. His change has good fade from lefties and solid sink that he will throw to righties. His split has good diving action and appears to be an occasional out pitch for him. His slider is a 2-7 offering with solid bite that he will throw 2-0. His curve is a slow, big breaking 12-6 with above average depth. Would like to see him in a start, as I think he is a better fit as a starter with his command and his vast array of offerings.

6th: FB (87-90), SL (81-82), CU (75-77), CB (67), Split (71) - FB, SL

5) Sean Green: 17 pitches. (FB, CB, CU). 3 strikes swinging. 3 Fastballs.

• Green came from a sidearm release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties and good sink and a 3-8 slider with solid bite

7th: FB (83-87), SL (71-72) - 3 FB

6) Pedro Feliciano: 9 pitches. (FB, Cut, SL, CU). 0 strikes swinging.

• Feliciano came from a sidearm release and showed a fastball with some late run in on lefties and some sink, a sweeping 9-4 slider with okay bite and a cutter with some cut.

7th: FB (86-88), Cut (82), SL (74-76)

7) Brian Stokes: 6 pitches. (FB, CB, CU). 1 strike swinging. Fastball

• Stokes came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties and a 1-7 curve with average depth that can look like a slider.

7th: FB (94-95), CB (80-81) - FB

8) Kiko Calero: 21 pitches. (FB, SL, CU). 1 strike swinging. Slider.

• Calero came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties and some sink, a 2-7 slider with good bite and a change with good fade from lefties.

7th: FB (86-88), SL (79-80), CU (83) - SL

9) Lance Broadway: 32 pitches. (FB, CU, SL). 3 strikes swinging. 3 Sliders.

• Broadway came from an over the top release and showed a change with good fade from lefties and good sink that he will throw to righties, a fastball with some run in on righties and a 2-7 slider with a little bite.

8th: FB (85-88), CU (74-78), SL (83-85) - 3 SL

9th: FB (86-89), CU (77), SL (82-84)

10) Dan Meyer: 19 pitches. (FB, SL, CU, CB). 2 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs.

• Meyer came from an over the top release and showed a pretty straight 4-seam fastball, a cutter with good cut and a change with good fade from lefties and some sink.

8th: FB (87-92), Cut (86-87), CU (82) - 2 FB

11) Tim Wood: 14 pitches. (FB, SL, CU). 2 strikes swinging. Fastball, Changeup.

• Wood came from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties and a little sink, a sharp 2-7 slider with some bite and a change with good fade from lefties and good sink.

9th: FB (92-95), SL (86-88), CU (90) - FB, CU

Score: 7/12 CIN @ NYM: NYM Pitchers

1) Mike Pelfrey: 115 pitches. 4 strikes swinging. 3 on Fastballs (1st, 5th, 7th), Slider (5th)

• Pelfrey came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with good run in on righties and good sink, a 2-7 slider with some bite and a curve that is just a little slower and has okay depth.

1st: FB (90-94), SL (83-84)

2nd: FB (90-93), SL (83-84), CB (76)

3rd: FB (91-94), SL (82)

4th: FB (90-93), SL (81-83)

5th: FB (88-94), SL (81-87), CB (78)

6th: FB (91-94), SL (84), CB (77)

7th: FB (91-94), SL (80)

2) Sean Green: 9 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Green is a sidearming righty who showed a fastball with good run in on righties with good sink and a frisbee 3-8 slider with good bite.

8th: FB (88-91), SL (73-75)

3) Pedro Feliciano: 7 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Feliciano is a sidearming lefty who showed a fastball with a little late run in on lefties and a cutter with some cut and sink.

8th: FB (86-89), Cut (81)

4) Bobby Parnell: 23 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 3 Fastballs.

• Parnell came from an over the top release and showed a 2-7 slider with some bite and a fastball with a little run in on righties.

8th: FB (95-99), SL (85-89)

5) Francisco Rodriguez: 24 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 2 on Changeups, Fastball.

• K-Rod came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties, a change with excellent dive and a big breaking 12-6 curve with good depth.

9th: FB (90-95), CB (80), CU (83-89)

Chart Observations (7/8 Game): LAD @ NYM

1) Hiroki Kuroda: 91 pitches. 3 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs (2nd, 5th), Slider (3rd)

• Kuroda came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties and a slider and split that are indistinguishable.

1st: FB (88-94), SL (83-85), Split (84-86)

2nd: FB (92-95), SL (80-81), Split (86)

3rd: FB (91-94), SL (80-84)

4th: FB (88-94)

5th: FB (90-94), SL (84), Split (86)

2) Oliver Perez: 108 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. 2 Sliders (1st, 2nd)

• Perez is a 6-3, 210 pound lefty. The 27 year old has a medium frame that can add a little more muscle. He comes from a 3/4 release. His fastball has some run in on righties. His slider is a 10-4 pitch with good bite and his change has some fade from righties with a little sink. He has absolutely zero idea where the ball is going.

1st: FB (89-93), SL (76-80), CU (85)

2nd: FB (86-93), SL (77-79)

3rd: FB (89-93), SL (76-79)

4th: FB (87-92), SL (77-81)

5th: FB (90-93), SL (78-81)

3) Cory Wade: 17 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Wade came from an over the top release with a fastball with some run in on righties, a change with good fade and sink from lefties and a 12-6 curve with good depth.

5th: FB (90-91), CB (75-78), CU (79)

4) Bobby Parnell: 31 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. Fastball (6th), Slider (6th)

• Parnell came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties, a 2-7 slider with good bite and a change with some fade from lefties with sink.

6th: FB (93-97), SL (85-88), CU (88-89)

7th: FB (95-98), SL (86-89)

5) Guillermo Mota: 18 pitches. 1 strike swinging. Slider (6th)

• Mota came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run in on righties, a 2-7 slider with good bite and a change with good fade from lefties and sink.

6th: FB (94-95), SL (87-88), CU (84-85)

7th: FB (95), SL 86-87)

6) Pedro Feliciano: 3 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Feliciano is a sidearming lefty who showed a fastball with a little run in on lefties and a cutter with solid cut.

7th: FB (88), Cut (81)

7) Brent Leach: 7 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. 2 Fastballs.

• Leach came from a high 3/4 release with a fastball with some run in on lefties and a 11-5 curve with good depth.

7th: FB (91-93), CB (75-76)

8) Sean Green: 12 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Green is a sidearming righty who showed a sweeping 3-8 slider with good bite, a fastball with above average run in on righties and a change with good fade from lefties with sink.

8th: FB (88-90), SL (73-75), CU (82)

9) Ramon Troncoso: 17 pitches. 0 strikes swinging.

• Troncoso came from a high 3/4 release with a 2-seam fastball with good run in on righties and a sharp 1-7 curve.

8th: FB (90-93), CB (78-79)

10) Francisco Rodriguez: 16 pitches. 2 strikes swinging. 2 Changeups.

• K-Rod came from an over the top release and showed a straight 4-seam fastball, a 12-6 curve with good depth and a change with excellent dive.

9th: FB (92-94), CB (81), CU (82-87)

Chart Observations: TB @ NYM

Due to the Braves game going so quick (a little over 2 hours), I did my extra chart that I had for tomorrow.

• Johan Santana comes from a high 3/4 release and shows a fastball with some run and sink, a late-breaking 10-4 slider with above average bite and a change that looks like a fastball out of his hand with excellent sink and above average fade that he will throw to lefties. His command is still not where it was last year, but is getting closer.

1st: FB (91-93), SL (83), CU (82)

2nd: FB (90-94), SL (83-85), CU (82-83)

3rd: FB (89-92), CU (80-83)

4th: FB (91-93), SL (82), CU (83-84)

5th: FB (90-92), SL (85), CU (80-85)

6th: FB (91-93), SL (83), CU (79-82)

7th: FB (90-92), SL (82-83), CU (82-83)

8th: FB (86), CU (78-80) Rain Delay hit, causing his FB to be slow for the 1 batter before they called them in.

• James Shields came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with good run and a little sink, a change with excellent fade and sink, a cutter with good cut and some sink and a big breaking 12-6 curve. He did an excellent job of mixing his pitches and kept the Mets hitters off balance.

1st: FB (91-93), CU (82-84), Cut (86-89), CB (79)

2nd: FB (90-93), CU (83-84), Cut (85), CB (76-78)

3rd: FB (91-93), CU (82-83), Cut (88-90), CB (78)

4th: FB (91-92), CU (83-84), Cut (88), CB (78)

5th: FB (89-91), CU (81-85), Cut (87-88), CB (74)

6th: FB (89-92), CU (80), Cut (84-88), CB (74-78)

7th: FB (90-91), CU (80), Cut (89), CB (74-79)

• Bobby Parnell comes from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run and a little sink and a 1-7 slider that was sharp with above average bite.

8th: FB (93-96), SL (86-87)

• Pedro Feliciano is a sidearming lefty who showed a fastball with good run away from lefties and a cutter with good cut and solid sink.

8th: FB (87-88), Cut (83)

• Dan Wheeler came from an over the top release and showed a fastball with good run and solid sink and a sharp 2-7 slider with solid bite.

8th: FB (87-89), SL (77-84)

• Sean Green is a sidearming righty who showed a fastball with excellent run and sink, a 3-7 slider with good bite and downward movement and a change with good sink and fade.

9th: FB (88-90), SL (72-76), CU (84)

• J.P Howell comes from an over the top release and showed a fastball with some run in on lefties, a sharp 12-6 curve with good depth and a straight change that had some late fade from righties and some sink.

9th: FB (85-88), CB (80-84), CU (81)

Got another chart, a score featuring Ricky Romero and Shairon Martis and a baseball game tomorrow.

Chart Observations: PHI @ NYM

• Tim Redding is a 31 year old right hander who stands 5-11, 230. He has a small frame that is maxed out. He comes from a high 3/4, almost over the top release. His fastball shows some fade and sink, though it can flatten out and he mixes in a straight 4-seam on occasion. His change moves just like his fastball, just a little bit slower. He throws a hard curve as his preferred strikeout pitch and its a 12-6 pitch with late bite and he will also throw a bigger breaking curveball with good depth for strikes. His slider is a 1-7 offering that can be slurvy or sharp and it flashes late bite. His command is above average and he is your typical # 5 starter.

1st: FB (87-90), CB (78), CU (83)

2nd: FB (88-92), CB (73-76), SL (81-84)

3rd: FB (88-90), CB (75), CU (81), SL (81-82)

4th: FB (87-91), CB (76), CU (80-83), SL (81-84)

5th: FB (86-89), SL (80-84)

6th: FB (84-90), CB (75), CU (78-81), SL (81-82)

7th: FB (87-90), CU (80-82), SL (79-84)

• Jamie Moyer opposed him and came from a 3/4 release. His fastball is a 2-seam with good sink and fade. His cutter is an 11-4 pitch that moves more like a slider with decent bite. His change moves like his fastball, but has more sink. His curveball is a big breaking 11-4 pitch with good depth. He will throw changes in on lefties.

1st: FB (82-83), Cut (78)

2nd: FB (81-83), Cut (78), CU (76)

3rd: FB (81-83), CU (75), CB (70)

4th: FB (80-83), CU (74-75), CB (67-70)

5th: FB (80-83), CB (71)

6th: FB (80-82), CU (74-75)

• Clay Condrey is a 6-3, 225 pound right hander. The 33 year old has a medium to big frame that is maxed out. He comes from a high 3/4 release with a 2-seam fastball with good fade and sink and a cutter with late cut and some sink on occasion. Solid middle reliever.

7th: FB (89-92), Cut (87-89)

8th: FB (90-91), Cut (89)

• Pedro Feliciano is a sidearmer who showed a cutter with good cut and sink, a change with good fade and sink, a fastball with good late sink and some fade and a sweeping 9-3 slider.

8th: FB (87-88), Cut (81-83), SL (76-77), CU (74)

• Bobby Parnell comes from a high 3/4 release with a 4-seam fastball wtih some fade that will flash sink and a sharp 2-7 slider with good bite.

9th: FB (94-98), SL (84-88)

10th: FB (94-97), SL (87)

• Chad Durbin comes from a 3/4 release with a fastball that had good fade, a cutter with good cut and a slider that is more of a downward pitch then a side to side pitch (12-6ish)

9th: FB (90-92), Cut (86-88), SL (87)

• Scott Eyre comes from a high 3/4 release with a straight 4-seam fastball and 10-4 slider with decent bite.

9th: FB (89), SL (82)

• Ken Takahashi is a 40 year old who stands 6-0, 200. The lefty won't be adding any more muscle to his frame. He comes from a high 3/4 release. His slider is a 10-4 offering that can just hang or show good bite. He throws a 2-seam with good fade and some sink and uses it against lefties primarily. He will mix in a straight 4-seam. He accomplished his goal of pitching in the bigs and can't see him pitching past this season.

10th: 4-FB (90), 2-FB (82-84), SL (79)

• Sean Green is a sidearmer who features a sweeping 3-8 slider and a fastball with good fade and sink.

10th: FB (88-89), SL (74-75)

• Ryan Madson comes from an over the top release with a fastball that has some fade and flashes as a pitch with good sink as well and a change with good fade and sink that looks like a fastball out of his hand.

11th: FB (92-96), CU (83-86)

Diamondbacks-Astros later tonight featuring Dan Haren and Mike Hampton. Hampton is incredibly difficult to chart, let alone try and follow his stuff while scoring. I will try to give the best velocities I can for him.

Chart Observations: PHI @ NYM

• Cole Hamels is a 6-3, 190 pound lefty. The 25 year old has a medium to big frame that has room to add a lot more muscle. He comes from an over the top release that generates a good downhill plane for his pitches. His fastball has some natural sink and run, though it will also flash some fade at times. His change looks like a fastball out of his hand and has excellent sink and some run (though he threw it way too much in this game). His curveball is an 11-5 offering with good depth. He will throw all his pitches to any hitter and any count. Hamels has plus command, but was working in the middle of the plate a little too often. I think Hamels is a # 2 right now (cue the debate again) and I want to see him utilize his above average curve more before I call him a legitimate ace.

1st: FB (88-93), CU (79-82), CB (76)

2nd: FB (89-92), CU (79-82)

3rd: FB (87-93), CU (79-83), CB (75)

4th: FB (88-91), CU (78-82)

5th: FB (85-90), CU (76-81), CB (74-75)

• Mike Pelfrey comes from a 3/4 release. He has a 2-seam sinker that shows good fade and sink and will mix in a rare straight 4-seam fastball. His slider is a 2-7 offering with decent bite. It can be very inconsistent and hang at times. His curveball is a bigger breaking SL and is a 1-7 type pitch. His changeup moves like his fastball, just slower. His command continues to be above average and he is a # 4 right now with the ability to develop into a 3 if he can tighten his slider.

1st: FB (92-94)

2nd: FB (91-94), SL (84-86)

3rd: FB (91-94), SL (85), CB (77)

4th: FB (92-94), SL (87), CU (83-84)

5th: FB (93-95), SL (81-85)

6th: FB (92-94), SL (86), CU (83)

7th: FB (91-93), CB (76)

• Jack Taschner is a 6-3, 205 pound lefty. The 31 year old has a medium to big frame that can add a little more muscle. He comes from a high 3/4 release. He has some wrist pronation when he brings the ball back at the bottom of his arm circle. His fastball is a 4-seam with some run. his slider is a sharp 10-4 wtih good bite and his change is straight with a little sink and run. Best fit is as a LOOGY, though he wouldn't kill you every once in awhile throwing a full inning.

6th: FB (90-91), SL (82-84), CU (83-84)

• Chad Durbin comes from a high 3/4 release and showed a 2-seam fastball with good fade and sink and a cutter with good cut that flashed some sink.

7th: FB (89-92), Cut (87-89)

• Scott Eyre came from a high 3/4 release and showed a straight 4-seam fastball with a little run and a slurvy 11-4 slider with decent bite.

7th: FB (90-92), SL (82)

• Sean Green is a 6-6, 225 pound right hander. The 30 year old has a big frame that can add more muscle, especially in the lower half. The sidearmer shows a fastball with good fade and sink, a 3-8 sweeping slider with some bite and a change with more sink then his fastball. Solid ROOGY.

7th: FB (88-91), SL (72-73), CU (82-83)

• J.C. Romero came from a high 3/4 release and showed a 4-seam fastball with some run, a slurvy 11-4 slider and a change with good sink and fade. He will add and subtract from his SL, as he has a loopy one for strikes and a sharp one for strikeouts.

8th: FB (88-93), SL (75-83), CU (81-82)

• Pedro Feliciano is a sidearmer who showed a fastball with some sink and run and a cutter with good cut and a little sink.

8th: FB (87-89), Cut (82-84)

• Francisco Rodriguez comes from an over the top release and showed a 4-seam fastball with some sink and run. His curveball is a sharp, late-breaking 2-7 offering while his change has excellent fade and sink.

9th: FB (92-95), CB (79-81), CU (85)

10th: FB (91-94), CB (80-81), CU (85)

• Chan Ho Park comes from a 3/4 release and showed a straight 4-seam fastball, a 2-seam that has good fade and sink, a 12-6 curveball with okay depth, a 2-7 slider with okay bite, a change with good fade and sink and a cutter with decent cut.

9th: FB (92-95), SL (83-85), CB (77-80), CU (83), Cut (88)

10th: FB (91-93), SL (82-87), CB (77), CU (82), Cut (88)

• Bobby Parnell took the loss after allowing a home run to Chase Utley. He came from a high 3/4 release and showed a straight 4-seam fastball and a loopy 1-8 slider.

11th: FB (95-100), SL (87-89)

• Ryan Madson came from an over the top release and showed a straight 4-seam fastball, a change with late fade and sink and a cutter with decent cut and a little sink.

11th: FB (94-97), CU (83-85), Cut (92)

5/29: FLA @ NYM

• Sean West attacked hitters from a high 3/4 release. His fastbal was a straight 4-seam. He will slide step and leg kick with runners on. His hard slider is a sharp 10-3 offering while his soft slider is a 10-3 offering that is a little slurvy. His changeup is a straight change. Still a solid major league starter with potential of a # 2.

West Inning By Inning:
1st: FB (91-94), SL (83)
2nd: FB (91-94), SL (80), CU (84)
3rd: FB (90-92), SL (80)
4th: FB (90-93), SL (84)
5th: FB (90-93), SL (79)
6th: FB (90-93), SL (80), CU (82-85)
7th: FB (90-93), SL (79-84)

• Mike Pelfrey is a 25 year old who stands 6-7, 230. He has a big frame that appears to be maxed out. He attacks hitters from a 3/4 release. His fastball shows average fade and a little sink. The movement is late, but it can be inconsistent. His slider is a loopy 2-7 offering with some bite, but it can be flat at times. His changeup showed good bite and fade. His curveball is a 1-7 pitch that appears to be just a slower slider that he only throws to lefties. He will leg kick and slide step.

Pelfrey Inning By Inning:
1st: FB (91-94), SL (85)
2nd: FB (90-94), SL (84)
3rd: FB (90-94)
4th: FB (90-94), SL (83-86), CU (82)
5th: FB (90-93), SL (81-83), CU (82)
6th: FB (91-92), SL (84-85), CU (81-82)
7th: FB (90-93), SL (84-85), CU (82), CB (74-77)
8th: FB (89-93), SL (84), CB (75)

• Bobby Parnell attacked hitters from a high 3/4 release. His fastball is a straight 4-seam that flashes fade. His slider is a 2-7 offering with great depth and flashes as a plus pitch.

Parnell Inning By Inning:
8th: FB (95-97), SL (85-89)

• Kiko Calero is a 34 year old who stands 6-1, 210 The right hander has a medium frame that is maxed out. His slider is a 2-8 offering with good depth and bite that he has plus command of. His fastball shows some occasional fade, but looks to be a straight 4-seam. Will throw 70 % sliders.

Calero Inning By Inning:
8th: SL (78-82), FB (86-88)

• Francisco Rodriguez attacked from an over the top release. His curveball is a sharp 12-6 with good bite. His change falls off the table with solid fade. His fastball is a straight 4-seam.

Rodriguez Inning By Inning:
9th: FB (90-94), CB (80-82), CU (84-89)

• Leo Nunez attacks hitters from a 3/4 release. His fastball is a 2-seam with average fade and a little sink. His slider is a 2-7 offering that can be a spinner at times. It shows average bite and decent depth. His changeup shows great fade and a little sink.

Nunez Inning By Inning:
9th: FB (93-95), SL (84-86), CU (86-87)

• Fernando Martinez pinch hit. The 20 year old who stands 6-1, 190 is a lefty hitter and righty thrower. He has a medium frame that, surprisingly, appears to be maxed out. He has a slightly open stance and holds the bat horizontal over this shoulder with a little bat wiggle. His trigger is a stride and a cocking of the bat Looks almost like a slap hitter, as he gets all his weight on his front foot. Reminds me of Brian Giles and I think that is his upside. His swing can get long.


• J.J. Putz attacked hitters from a high 3/4 release. His splitter showed great fade and some bite. His fastball is a straight 4-seam that flashes fade.

Putz Inning By Inning:
10th: FB (93-95), Split (84-88)
11th: FB (90-94), Split (83-85), SL (81)

• Dan Meyer attacked hitters from a high 3/4 release. His slider is a sweeping 10-4 pitch. His fastball is a straight 4-seam. His changeup has some sink, but looks to be average, though it does look like a fastball out of hand. His fastball is a straight 4-seam.

Meyer Inning By Inning:
10th: FB (89-93), SL (86-87), CU (81-82)

• Pedro Feliciano attacks hitters from a sidearm release. Fastball is a 4-seam that gets good run and a little sink. Slider is a sweeping 9-4, 9-3 pitch. His change shows good fade, but is an average offering.

Feliciano Inning By Inning:

11th: FB (88-89), SL (83-84), CU (75)

• Brian Sanches attacked hitters from a high 3/4 release. He is very similar to Brandon League of the Jays in mechanics and pitch selection. His fastball shows a little fade and sink. His slider is a 2-7 offering with solid depth.

Sanches Inning By Inning:

11th: FB (89-90), SL (81-85)

Chart Observations: WAS @ NYM

• John Lannan started for the Nats. The 24 year old left hander who stands 6-4, 215 has a big frame with room to add a little more muscle. From a high 3/4, almost over the top release, he featured a fastball at 85-89, a curveball at 70-76, a slider at 81-82 and a changeup at 80-82. His fastball has good run and a little sink and is an average offering. His slider is a 10-4 offering with good depth and is a slightly above average pitch. His chnageup moves like a 2-seamer and is just a little slower and is also just an average pitch. His curveball is an 11-5 offering that can be a little loopy and that is also average. He really fights himself to try and keep his fastball down and tends to miss armside with his pitches. He is a nibbler who prefers to stay on the inside or outside corners. Most of his fastballs are aimed at the knees on the outside corner and he hits the spot quite often. He is a # 4 starter right now, who could grow into a # 3. It also isn't out of the realm of possibility to see him add enough muscle to get up to 89-91 consistently with his fastball.
• John Maine is a 28 year old who stands 6-4, 200. The right hander has a big frame with room to add a lot more muscle. From a 3/4 release, Maine showed a fastball at 89-93, a slider at 85-87 and a changeup at 82-87. His fastball has a little fade to it and is a slightly above average pitch due to its velocity. His changeup shows good fade and sink and is an above average offering. His slider shows good bite and late drop and is a 2-7 type pitch that is above average. Maine's struggles aren't with his stuff, it is with his command. He struggles to command his fastball and has a tendency to leave it up (bad) and in the middle of the plate (double bad). He likes to throw his slider with 2 strikes and starts it at the knees on the inside corner to lefties (or outside corner to righties) and have the natural movement take it out of the zone. He misses his spots more then any pitcher I have seen this year, constantly throwing outside fastballs when the catcher wants it in and vice versa. To left handers, he likes to throw sliders in and changes away. Maine is a # 3 starter right now with ace potential still with his frame and his command struggles. He likely won't start throwing any harder, though it wouldn't be crazy to see him at 92-94 consistently in a couple year. Will he ever solve his command issues and take that next step to be a # 2?
• Jesus Colome is a 31 year old who stands 6-2, 240. The right hander has a medium frame that is maxed out. From a low 3/4, almost side arm, release he showed a fastball at 92-95 and a slider at 87-90. His slider has more bite to it then side to side movement, but it can flatten out at times. It is a sharp and late breaking pitch with 3-7 type movement when on. His fastball is a straight 4-seam. Both his pitches are above average, but he has a tendency to fall behind hitters and throw that 4-seam over the middle of the plate. Looks like a solid middle reliever who has a drop and drive delivery from the stretch.
• Bobby Parnell had some command issues. His fastball showed good fade and sink. From his high 3/4 release, he showed a fastball at 93-98 and a slider at 84-86. His slider showed very good bite and is a 2-7 type pitch. He has a classic drop and drive delivery with a big leg kick. His slider flashes plus. He will over throw his fastball, causing him to leave it up. He really struggled with his control in this outing and wasn't missing by much, but continued to nibble and didn't make an adjustment to throw more over the middle of the plate.
• Pedro Feliciano is a 32 year old left hander who stands 5-10, 190. He has a small frame that is maxed out. From a sidearm release, he showed a fastball at 88 and a slider at 82-84. His slider is a frisbee slider and is a 9-4 type offering. Fastball shows some sink and a little fade. He generates very good deception and throws across his body a little bit. A good LOOGY and is a good # 1 lefty to have in a pen.
• J.J. Putz is a 32 year old who stand 6-5, 250. The right hander has a big frame that is maxed out. From a high 3/4 release, he showed a fastball at 92-95, a splitter at 83-86 and a slider at 85. His fastball showed good fade and some sink. He was flying open mechanically in his 2nd inning of work, causing him to lose command of his fastball. Splitter has excellent fade, but only average bite. His slider is a 1-7 offering that shows good bite. His splitter is every where from average to plus. Good top set-up man who could probably still close right now.
• Daniel Cabrera is a 27 year old who stands 6-9, 260. The right hander has a big frame that is maxed out. From an over the top release, he showed a fastball at 88-92 and a slider at 76-80. His fastball is a straight 4-seam that flashes some fade. His slider is a 11-6 offering that shows some late bite, but is just an average offering and is very inconsistent. He struggles to repeate his mechanics and will throw 40 foot sliders. He is hell for catchers, as he has no idea where the ball is going once he releases it and he spikes quite a few pitches. He is done, but you will likely hear from him again in a couple years.
• Jason Bergmann showed a fastball at 92 and a curveball at 75-77 from a high 3/4 release. The curveball is a 12-6 breaker with average break and bite. His fastball is a 2-seam with excellent fade. Solid middle reliever.
• Kip Wells is a 32 year old who stands 6-3, 205. The right hander has a medium to big frame that looks like it can add more muscle, especially on the lower half. From a high 3/4 release, he showed a fastball at 92-96 and a slider at 86. His fastball shows above average fade and solid sink and is an above average offering. His slider is sharp with late break and is a 3-9 type pitch that is also above average. I don't think it is out of the realm of possibility for him to turn into a closer.
• Francisco Rodriguez is a 26 year old who stands 6-0, 195. The right hander has a medium frame that is maxed out. From a high 3/4, almost over the top release he showed a fastball at 92-95, a curveball at 80-83 and a changeup at 83-87. The fastball shows above average fade and a little sink and is an above average offering. His curveball is sharp with late break and is a 12-6 offering that is above average. His changeup has excellent dive and has above average fade and just disappears and is a plus pitch. He has a max effort delivery and will likely be a strong closer for another couple of years.

NYM @ BOS

• Johan Santana got the start for the Mets and is a 30 year old who stands 6-0 and 21o pounds. From a high 3/4 release, he showed a fastball at 89-93, a slider at 80-86 and a changeup at 79-84. His fastball has great movement and goes away from right handers. It is a plus offering. His changeup looks exactly like a his fastball out of his hand and then just disappears. It has great sink and fade and is truly a plus plus pitch. He has enough command of this pitch to throw it in any count, which really isn't fair. His slider has good late break and has some depth to it. He works from the 3rd base side of the rubber. Amongst the top 3 starters in baseball and may very well be the best.
• Daisuke Matsuzaka was back from the DL and pitched fairly well. The 28 year old who stands 6 feet tall and weighs 185 pounds featured a fastball at 91-94, a slider at 81-85, a changeup at 82-84, a splitter at 81-83 and a cutter at 86-90 from a high 3/4 release. He has a typical Japanese windup, pausing at the balance point and when he takes a step back to start his windup. His fastball is a straight 4-seam. His slider is slower then his cutter and has some good side to side movement, but the downward break is inconsistent. His cutter has good movement and moves enough to avoid hitters from squaring it up consistently. His changeup has some good drop and a little fade. Probably fits best as a # 4 on a contender due to his high pitch counts. If he could ever figure out how to throw quality strikes and not walk a lot of guys, he has the pitches to be an above average # 3 starter.
• Justin Masterson fired 3 innings of relief today. The massive (6-6, 250) right hander featured a fastball at 89-95 and a slider at 82-85 from a low 3/4 release. Masterson has a big frame that appears to be maxed out and this is probably all you get from him from a stuff standpoint. He has a very quiet delivery until he breaks, where he gets his whole body into it and uses his 250 pounds to generate his velocity. His fastball has tremendous side to side movement and also shows some sink. He shows a rare ability to both command a pitch with that type of movement and to add and subtract to it for more movement or more speed as he desires. His slider is an above average offering with good depth, but it can be inconsistent. Masterson works painfully slow once runners reach base, but showed quicker to the plate then I thought, as I had him at 1 second on a fastball. Masterson's best role is probably that as a bridge reliever from the starter to the closer.
• Daniel Murphy is a 24 year old who stands 6 foot 3 and weighs 210 pounds. The lefty hitter/righty thrower has a medium to big frame with room to grow. He has a slightly crouched stance and is hunched over. He leans back on his bat leg and wiggles his elbows around as the pitcher is going through his motion. He has the conventional trigger with a step and bringing his ahnds back. He holds the bat almost horizontal just above his shoulder. He is a talented offensive player, showing an ability to work a count to get a pitch he wants, plus bat control and projects to be a 15-20 home run guy in the majors at worst. His biggest issue is where to play him defensively. He has had a lot of struggles in the OF this season and will never have the required power to be a 1B (or the glove to offset the lack of power). A defensive tweener + being a professional hitter usually spells a pinch hitter. I anticipate him sticking in either an outfield corner or at 1B once Carlos Delgado is gone and look to see him hitting .280-.360-.450 with some stolen bases.
• Bobby Parnell throws gas. The 23 year old who stands 6-4 and weighs 200 pounds showed an explosive 4-seam fastball at 96-100 from a high 3/4 release. He may have thrown one changeup that was average. He has a big frame that appears to be maxed out. He shows very easy velocity from a very clean windup and looks to have the looks of a future closer. Special arm.
• Daniel Bard is a 23 year old who stands 6-4 and weighs 200 pounds. He has a long and lean frame that has room to add a lot more muscle. From a high 3/4 release, he showed a fastball from 96-97 and a curveball at 81-82. He battles his command from pitch to pitch and from batter to batter. The curveball showed great bite when used as a strikeout pitch, but flattened out when he tried to throw it for a strike. The Mets got some good swings on him, telling me he may not be quite ready for late inning work, but he is another big arm who has a bright future, likely as a set-up man.

NYM @ SF

• I got to watch Johan Santana pitch for the 1st time in about 2 years and he is definitely amongst the best pitchers in the majors. He was at 89-93 with his fastball, 79-84 with his changeup and 82-86 with his slider. The bad part of this is the Mets seem to take off everyday he pitches, making errors or just not hitting, or both. His fastball is above average due to his plus command, his changeup is plus-plus and his slider was above average. He mainly was FB-CU and had guys way out in front or swinging over the top of his change. If the Mets can ever play defense behind him, his pitch counts would become much more manageable. A legit # 1.
• Randy Johnson has lost some stuff. He was 88-94 with his fastball, 84-88 with the slider and 83-86 with the splitter. Johnson's slider is now merely a plus pitch and his fastball is slightly above average. The splitter is just an average offering. He still has plus-plus command, but now gets punished when he misses in the zone or teams bloops fall in and both happened to him today. He is a back of the rotation starter for a contender though with his ability to eat up innings and is a valuable pitcher.
• Justin Miller was picked up by the Giants from the Marlins. He features a fastball at 87-91 and a slider at 78-82. Nothing about this guy is plus. He struggled with his command (I would say it is below average), his fastball is average and his slider may be a tick above average. He has a slight amount of extra movement in his stretch, as the lead foot comes down, then out. Not sure if its anything, but it is a different thing. He seems to be in the mold of Vinnie Chulk or Kiko Calero, but just doesn't have the stuff to be that. Organizational reliever.
• Merkin Valdez demonstrated his plus arm featuring a fastball at 95-97 and a slider at 85. Valdez was once a top prospect before he had multiple arm surgeries, but he has a plus fastball and a plus slider with average command from a high 3/4 release point and you have to think the more innings he throws, the more his command will develop. I think this kid is a future closer, though he will need to be quick to shed his injury-prone label and show an ability to pitch on back-to-back days.
• Pat Misch is another reliever who didn't show much. From a 3/4 release, he was 85-89 with his fastball, 84 with his slider, 75-78 with his curveball and 80-82 with his changeup. I liked his curveball, but when you sit at 85-89 with your fastball and only show a little above average command, your error zone gets a lot smaller. I think he is a long reliever in a pen, but he isn't a guy who has LOOGY potential, as his curveball isn't a true out or plus pitch, but just above average. His changeup was also a touch above average, making him a good candidate to face both righties and lefties.
• Bobby Parnell was another lightning arm on display this afternoon. He was 94-98 with his fastball and 81-85 with his slider. His slider is average, though it has flashed above average a few times I have seen him and his command is also just average. I wouldn't expect him to maintain a sub 2 ERA all season, but it isn't out of the question for a sub 3 ERA and being a solid 7th inning guy if he doesn't get victimized too badly by the Mets defense or balls in play. Parnell's upside is that of a closer, though I think he will settle in as a set-up man.
• Brandon Medders finished the game for the Giants and got hit around a little bit. Once a hard throwing right hander in the Diamondbacks system, he has made himself into a command and control type pitcher (whether it's an upgrade or not is debatable). He featured a cut fastball at 88-91 (may just be natural cut, but it is a cutter), a curveball at 68-70 and a slider at 80-83. Only the cutter was a real above average pitch and that is only due to the fact he can typically spot it. He only has above average command, so he does tend to leave pitches out over the plate and with his new velocity, he gets hit. His curveball is a plus offering, but is no out pitch, as it is too slow and easy to fight off. Another guy who features best as a 10th or 11th guy in the pen. He will likely continue riding the bus to Fresno and back.
• J.J. Putz got the save for the Mets and featured his 4-seam fastball at 94-96, a slider at 82 and a splitter at 84-86. The splitter had very good bite today. When the splitter doesn't have good bite, he is forced to rely on his fastball to left handers and that is how he gets hit. His slider is above average and his fastball is also above average. His command is above average, but when he misses with the fastball, he tends to miss up. If he can continue to be consistent with his splitter, he is a luxury for the Mets, as he is a closer pitching the 8th inning.
• Manny Burriss, a 6-0 190 pound 23 year old, is a switch hitter with a small frame that can add quite a bit more muscle (though if he does, he likely loses some speed). From the right side, he features a crouched stance. He is a plus runner who understands his strengths and looks to pound the ball on the ground. He moves his weight back as the pitcher is about to release. From the left side, he features a crouched stance, but also opens himself up to see the ball better. He may be a tad overexposed as a starting 2Bmen, though he fits their park very well with his speed. I think he winds up being a super utility guy that can play everywhere (he came up as a SS) and being the top guy off a bench for a contender. A career like Chone Figgins also isn't out of question.
• Pablo Sandoval, a 5-11 245 pound 22 year old, is a switch hitter with a squatty build and a body that would be described by scouts as bad. He has huge thighs, which have to worry you as he ages. His frame is currently maxed out (hard to tell if it is good or bad). He shows a fairly stright up stance and takes a big leg kick right before the pitcher release. He is a below average runner. He is more or of a line drive gap hitter then a masher. His upside is likely close to that of a starting 3B. If he was able to catch everyday, he would be immensely more valuable. The only problem with his as a corner infielder is I don't believe he will show the power needed from those positions and doesn't offer too much defensively. He is the classic defensive tweener, as he can't play OF, can play manageable corner infield spots, but you wish you had someone better there and he can spot catch, but you don't want him catching everyday. I think he is good enough to establish himself as an everyday 3B for a team that gets its power elsewhere (like Philly) and is a guy that will be a .280-.330-.440 guy in his prime. Very aggressive hitter that won't walk much.
• Travis Ishikawa, a 6-3 225 pound 25 year old, has a big frame that can add a lot more muscle. He features a slightly open stance that is nearly identical to that of teammate Fred Lewis. You would think he would have power his frame, but he also appears to be another gap-hitting San Francisco corner infielder. He is a tweener to me, but a tweener in the sense I think he is a 4-A player. He doesn't offer much in regards to batting average (probably about a .260 hitter), power (maybe 15 home runs, that's the max), defense (kind of lead footed and doesn't have great hands) or speed (just an average runner). Sounds like a 4-A player to me. John Bowker is hitting .317 in AAA. Sounds like its his turn again in the "Who Wants to Play First Base for the Giants And Not Be Worthless?" gameshow.
• Bengie Molina's catch and throw ability has really deteriorated. He is slow in his exchange, it appears his arm angle has dropped causing the ball to tail towards second base and his arm is just average. However, he is their best hitter, so he will continue to play. It actually scares me to what Sandoval's defensive is like back there, as I would think playing Molina at 1B could be a better option (who knows at this point, he has to be better then John Bowker).

A lot of Observations

Yesterday afternoon's game was blacked out, so I just scored it from Gameday. Charted the Mets-Phillies game and live scored the Rays-Red Sox game today.

• Oliver Perez has lost a lot of his stuff and almost all his command. This is no longer a pitcher who sat in the mid 90's and teased with you a great slider. This new version of Perez sits in the low 90's and teases with you a wildly inconsistent average slider. The main problem is all the old command issues remain. He struggles to control his stuff, let alone command it in the strike zone. You could also tell he was upset and frustrated with his performance yesterday (he was getting squeezed quite a bit as well). He has the look of a pitcher who doesn't know what else to do to try and get results. The Mets must tread carefully here, as he may be close to just losing the mental side of it as well.
• Jamie Moyer is a freak. The guy has a tremendous 2-seam fastball that sits in the low 80's. He complements this with an above average low 70's curveball, a high 70's cutter and a mid 70's changeup. He has above average command of all his pitches and looks to be ready to have another solid year as a back-end starter.
• Ken Takahashi made his major league debut. The 40 year old (no typo) lefty sits with a fastball at the high 80's, a decent changeup in the low 80's, a decent slider in the mid 80's and a curveball at the low 70's. He is an extra arm. He has good command, but nothing about his package jumps out at you. Plus, what team has much time for a 40-year old rookie (and only the Mets would have time if he was Latino)
• Pedro Feliciano threw a 1st pitch changeup to Raul Ibanez (who hit it out of the balpark to knot the game at 5) for some reason. Made zero sense.
• This leads me to my next point in regards to why Jerry Manuel may favor Omir Santos over Ramon Castro: game-calling. Castro called many questionable pitches, like changeups out of Perez when behind in the count and obviously struggling to command everything. Castro also rarely visited the mound to try and reassure his pitcher. Not saying anything for sure, but that was my observation. Castro is a very useful bat.
• Bobby Parnell has a big arm, sitting in the middle to high 90's with his fastball. He showed zero ability to command either of his off-speed pitches though (a mid 80's change and a high 80's slider). He can be a strong late inning reliever, but you have to wish that the kid could have gotten half a season in AAA to try and develop an off-speed pitch. You can't do that in the big leagues.
• I am going to echo what a lot of other people have said this season: Ryan Madson is the best reliever in the Phillies bullpen. Madson is throwing a high 90's fastball (sat at 95-96), a tremendous change that is effective to hitters on both sides of the plate at the low 80's with good bite and fade and a low 90's cutter. If Brad Lidge's struggles continue (and his slider lacked the same bite it showed last season again yesterday), then Madson is in the driver's seat for the closer's gig.
• Brad Penny was very strong for the Red Sox. He settled in, pumping in low to mid 90's fastballs, mid 70's curveballs and a mid 80's splitter. If he pitches to his potential (and he showed today that it is still a strong # 3 starter), then the Red Sox staff will be that much better.
• James Shields was on. Featuring a low 90's fastball, a devastating low 80's change, mid 70's curveball and a mid 80's cutter, he can be dominant when he is commanding all his pitches and he was doing just that. His change is a plus-plus pitch with tremendous fade and sink, causing many hitters to swing over the top of it. He can throw it to both right handers and left handers with equal success. Theo Epstein said it best on the telecast: "James Shields keeps proving he is a frontline starter in this league."
• Manny Delcarmen had some control issues, which the announcers say may be related to a hip flexor. I don't buy it, but he definitely struggled commanding his low to mid 90's fastball and low 80's changeup.
• Hunter Jones is an extra arm. The kid has a solid low 70's curveball, but with a fastball sitting in the mid 80's (mostly 86), he will get hit hard once teams just sit on that. A low 70's curveball is not a good pitch to have as your out pitch when you are trying to become a LOOGY.
• Ramon Ramirez is a very, very good reliever. Hard for me to fathom that both the Rockies (Huston Street and Manny Corpas are inferior pitchers) and Royals (though they did get Coco Crisp) dealt him away. He attacks with a mid 90's fastball and a mid to high 80's changeup that is just filthy. He is a luxury as a 7th inning guy with the likes of Saito and Papelbon ahead of him in the pecking order.
• Carl Crawford stole 6 bases to go with a 4-4 day. The guy knows how to use his legs by pounding the ball on the ground and just running. Of his 6 steals, only 1 was close (not Jason Varitek's fault, he was stealing them on the pitchers and twice stole the pitch after pitchouts, the best time to run).

I have copies of every game played thus far this season at my disposal at work, so if there is someone specific you would like for me to get a read on for you, let me know.